The selection event of the Meridian Refining Master Guild that day ultimately did not yield any surprises. After obtaining the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad, Yun Xiao directly exchanged it for the entry token for advancement, and then he left the Meridian Refining Master Guild.

The disciple selection of the Lushan City Meridian Refining Master Branch lasts four days, with ten passers each of the first three days. Finally, thirty Meridian Refining Masters will compete together for the final three spots, and competition is undeniably fierce.

However, these are not issues for Yun Xiao. Having passed the assessment on the first day, the next two days should be uneventful, allowing him to properly refine the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad.

In a very secluded courtyard in the West City of Lushan, Yun Xiao sat cross-legged on the bed. At this moment, it was already the third day after the assessment, and during these three days, he had been merging the Eighth Rank Low Level Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad with his original Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad Vein Spirit.

In fact, this fusion wasn't without any risk; carelessness could even endanger one's life. Especially when integrating a cold-attribute mutant like the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad, one could potentially be frozen into an ice sculpture.

Fortunately, in his previous life as the Long Xiao Battle God, Yun Xiao had much experience in enhancing Vein Spirits through fusion. Plus, he possessed a cold attribute Ancestor Vein, so by the evening of that day, he finally opened his eyes, which had been closed for three days.

"Not bad, not only has the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad successfully evolved to the Eighth Rank Low Level, but even the Meridian Qi Cultivation has improved!"

As Yun Xiao opened his eyes, he murmured, then stretched out his left hand. An object of crystalline beauty emerged from his body—it was the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad Vein Spirit.

At this time, the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad Vein Spirit was immensely stronger than it was during the Yuyang City Spirit Fighting Conference. Yun Xiao believed that if he faced those ordinary vein spirits again, perhaps he wouldn't even need Golden Snake Worm Xiao Wu and Ancient Heavenly Phoenix Red Feather to take action, and he could sweep through effortlessly.

"Ice Cold Qi!"

A low voice uttered from Yun Xiao's mouth. Along with it, the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad opened its mouth, and the wooden table sprayed by its cold breath instantly transformed into an ice table, dazzling and mystical.

After playing with the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad Vein Spirit for a while, Yun Xiao leapt up from the bed. Having stayed still for three days, he now wanted to stretch his limbs.

Crunch!

Bang!

However, just as Yun Xiao stepped out the door, a powerful gust of wind abruptly attacked from outside, causing his heart to tighten. As if by reflex, his entire body sprang backward while he waved his sleeve, pushing the door back to its frame.

Crash!

But the force from the ambush outside was mighty, and the wooden door wasn't very sturdy. Under the pressure of two forces, it immediately shattered into pieces.

With the door as a shield, Yun Xiao, who stabilized in retreat, was able to clearly see two figures entering from outside. One of them turned out to be someone he found not unfamiliar.

"Heh heh, when the grand Liu Family Princely Heir visits, why not notify Yun in advance? I could at least welcome you at the courtyard!"

Yun Xiao stared at the young man with a smug smile on his face. This person was indeed the Liu Family's great heir, Liu Yu, who had lost face three days ago at the Meridian Refining Master Guild due to Yun Xiao.

As the Liu Family's princely heir, Liu Yu's tolerance wasn't particularly broad. Due to the Liu Family's background, he hadn't suffered much loss within Lushan City's bounds. Those who knew him usually gave the Liu Family some face.

Yet, on that day at the Meridian Refining Master Guild, his original plan to show off and earn praise was frustrated by this guy named Yun Xing, leaving him utterly embarrassed.

From that moment, Liu Yu never considered letting Yun Xiao off. Especially after hearing about Yun Xiao's subsequent actions, he felt an intense sense of threat regarding this time's Refining Cloud Mountain disciple selection.

Even though there were three spots in the Lushan City Meridian Refining Master Branch, Liu Yu still did not want any incidental developments. It seemed as if, as long as that guy named Yun Xing was present, he would surely fail.

"Yun Xing, you really know how to hide like a turtle, making it hard for this young master to find you!"

Feeling fully in control, Liu Yu paid no attention to Yun Xiao's smiling face but instead let out a cold laugh. Indeed, in such a remote courtyard, even their Liu Family took three days to find him.

"Young Master Liu, it seems we have no grudges. Why do you keep thinking about me?"

Yun Xiao, sensing the aura of the old man beside Liu Yu, spoke evasively. But upon hearing the words "no grudges," Liu Yu's face instantly turned somber.

"No grudges? Haha, it seems you're clueless on the brink of death!"

Liu Yu sarcastically retorted, then let out two loud laughs, followed by a gradual coldness in his voice, sinisterly saying, "Yun Xing, don't say I didn't give you a chance; as long as you break your own arms, and then kneel before me with three kowtows, perhaps I might consider sparing your life!"

Confident Liu Yu felt the thrill of a cat playing with a mouse, knowing that the person beside him was a genuine Origin Seeking Realm Early Stage powerhouse, whose status was quite formidable even within the Liu Family.

Since the fellow called Yun Xing before him was in a tight spot, why not toy with him a bit more? In Liu Yu's view, killing him with one stroke would be far too cheap.

An exceptionally talented Meridian Refining Master might never accomplish anything in life if his arms were severed, which surely would be a far more painful fate than simply dying.

"So, Young Master Liu doesn't intend to reason with me?"

Yun Xiao's voice also turned a few degrees colder. Having exhausted all polite talk and faced with his opponent's stubbornness, there was nothing more to say; a mere Origin Seeking Realm Early Stage cultivator did not pose a threat warranting retreat.

"Reason? In this world, ultimately, whoever has the bigger fist has the reason!"

Liu Yu himself only possessed the strength of the Qi Seeking Realm Early Stage, but due to the presence of the Liu Family powerhouse by his side, his confidence had soared to an extreme level. What he said was considered to be the truth of the continent.

"Bigger fist? Are you referring to that old fellow beside you?"

Upon hearing this, Yun Xiao scoffed, pointing at the Liu Family powerhouse, demonstrating a lack of care through implicit mockery. Before Liu Yu could speak, the Liu Family powerhouse was the first to react unfavorably.

This Liu Family powerhouse named Liu Gen was one of the several Origin Seeking Realm powerhouses within the Liu Family, a formidable presence in Lushan City he dared not provoke, except for the Spirit Fighting Commerce and Meridian Refining Master Guild; anything else he had never considered worthy.

Liu Gen had also heard from Liu Yu about this fellow's performance at the Meridian Refining Master Guild, but no matter how strong Meridian Refining Techniques were, without breaking through to the Origin Seeking Realm, he could easily handle him.

"Arrogant fellow, let me show you what truly means to have a bigger fist!"

Liu Gen sensed no threat from Yun Xiao, so in his anger and frustration, he immediately struck, vowing to break this fellow's limbs to let him understand the consequences of offending the Liu Family in Lushan City.

"Alas, why in this world are there always so many self-satisfied individuals?"

Seeing the Liu Family powerhouse strike so brazenly, Yun Xiao shook his head; just after breaking through to the peak of the Qi Seeking Realm, he could defeat one genius of the Killing Heart Sect to death and another to flee. Now, having refined the Three-legged Ice Crystal Toad Vein Spirit and further advanced his Meridian Qi, dealing with Liu Gen posed no difficulty.

After all, those like Ye Suxin and Tong Baisha hailed from one of the top three sects, the Killing Heart Sect, whose Cultivation Techniques and Meridian Techniques were far superior to anything of the Liu Family in Lushan City.

In Yun Xiao's eyes, Liu Gen's strength paled compared to Tong Baisha, who didn't last long after advancing to the Origin Seeking Realm Early Stage and was defeated at Yun Xiao's hands. Yet, his self-satisfaction remained unabated.

But at least at this moment, Liu Gen and Liu Yu were oblivious to these facts; they only knew that the fellow before them clearly hadn't broken into the Origin Seeking Realm, thus believed him incapable of making waves.

Bam!

Liu Gen expected the opponent to dodge awkwardly, but instead saw him lightly extend his right hand to meet his blow, producing a loud clash.

"How… is this possible?"

And when this clash was witnessed by Liu Yu from a short distance, his heart surged with waves of shock, for he not only sensed Yun Xiao's true Meridian Qi Cultivation but also saw an incredibly unbelievable scene.

The cultivation at the peak of the Qi Seeking Realm wouldn't typically surprise Liu Yu excessively, but in this clash, Yun Xing's figure merely swayed slightly, while Liu Gen, the Liu Family powerhouse at the Origin Seeking Realm Early Stage, was forced back three steps before stabilizing himself, his aura slightly unsteady.

Originally, Liu Yu had immense faith in Liu Gen, and upon sensing Yun Xiao at the peak of the Qi Seeking Realm, he was reassured, thinking that even if the fellow survived the blow, he'd likely be gravely injured.

On the Nine Dragons Continent, cultivators capable of fighting across levels were exceedingly rare, let alone fighting across ranks, especially between the Qi Seeking Realm and the Origin Seeking Realm.

Yet, that fellow called Yun Xing not only countered Liu Gen's heavy blow across ranks but casually threw him back three steps, a result overturning Liu Yu's understanding of cultivation, making him feel as if his thirty years of cultivation were an illusion.

Leaving aside the spectator Liu Yu, Liu Gen's heart also surged with shock at this moment, something completely absent from his intentions.

Feeling the numbness on his right arm, he had reason to believe that in that strike just now, his opponent likely had not even exerted full strength.